Reflective Synopsis
So now I
find myself at the pointy end of this course and in the crux of a Reflective
Synopsis of what the past 5+ weeks really mean with regards to eLearning and
technology in my future classroom. It is important that I address
learning under the veil of constructivism, Connectivism, complex thinking and
difference and link it to the SAMR model of learning with a focus on the M and
R (Modification and Redefinition).
Constructive
Learning e-Learning would take a class field trip for example and use
technology to give the students' the experience of the field trip but using
technology. What this does is open the doors to infinite field trip
options anywhere in the world. Students are no longer bound by the
geographical confines of their area and have the entire world at
their fingertips. Some tools that could potentially be used for a field
trip could perhaps be Google Maps- to get an idea where this place, or YouTube
to see videos of the place. There are online museum trips that can be taken or
if the unit is on outer space, students are able to even get an
inside view of the International Space Station perhaps. What this
technology offers the Constructivist learning method is it first allows
students to really immerse themselves in the unit they are studying. They can
go beyond their one dimensional textbooks and library books to an entirely
interactive unit of work. This also has more potential to pique the interest of
more learners by offering a variety of learning methods. There are so many
different types of learners in a classroom, and offering this technology has a
greater chance of reaching and becoming meaningful learning than traditional
learning methods. The Modification of the learning comes through how the
lessons, testing and reporting are done and the Redefinition of the learning is
achieved through an almost non-traditional approach to traditional units of
work.
Thinking
about Connectivism, and how this relates to the classroom is to see
conventional, traditional learning get a huge make over, face lift if you will.
I have found this interesting through the readings if have read and think this
way of learning serves to totally engage each student. By definition Connective
Theory is " the premise that Declarative Knowledge is supplemented...by knowing
where knowledge can be found" http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/theories-for-digital-age-connectivism.html
What this
is in effect telling me is that students are now learning how to learn,
build on the knowledge they already have and know where to add or augment the
knowledge to make it more concrete. Connectivism puts the power and perhaps
onus back into the students to take more control of their learning. This is a
shift from traditional learning methods, but fits perfectly with the idea of
the Digital 2.0 classroom. The Modification of learning through Connectivism
changes how a student learns. They are not so much dictated to, but more so in charge
of finding the answers using Technology. Students need to be educated on Web
safety, safe web surfing and what is appropriate and that is the teachers'
responsibility. But having said that when students understand where and where
not they can go on the net or what digital tools are acceptable, they have a
much greater platform to express themselves. Redefinition of traditional
learning through Connectivism also explores the possibility that
As I
understand this, there is an idea that learning technology not only changes our
social and cultural worlds but also may affect us biologically. That is a
complete Redefinition of learning and these effects are yet to be completely
determined. I believe students have the propensity to be more empowered in the
classroom, do the things they want with the technology they desire. The
teacher's responsibility then remains to guide these youngsters through this
digital maze making it a safe place to learn but ultimately changing the
classroom climate forever.
Advancing
onto Complex Thinking and Difference, there is a focus that centres around not
just how children learn but what children learn.
This
theory sees children's learning as greater than just the traditional confines
of the classroom, but taking it further into the realms of technology and how
it can benefit their learning. In effect the use of technology in the
classroom has caused the teaching world to rethink how children are taught.
Traditional teaching methods are now evolving and the idea of the teacher
standing up in front of the class and basically lecturing to students is going
and in some cases gone. Education is evolutionary and keeping children up with
technology will make their learning relevant and meaningful to their lives now
and going forward into higher education. "new computational tools can open
up fresh approaches for studying and understanding the behaviours of
systems" (Kafai pg. 7) In the first 5 Assessments of this course, we
explored some of these sorts of tools and learned how they can benefit
traditional learning with a Digital 2.0 flavour. There is now the opportunity
for Parents, teachers and students alike to find websites that offer the
learner a different approach to what they are learning. This sort of support
allows different sorts of learners the opportunity to perhaps excel in a topic
or area of learning they were otherwise weak in. I can honestly say, I was a
weak Math student and had on way of learning that did not suit my learning
style. Perhaps if these sorts of sites existed when I was working my way
through school, I may have found a learning style that suited me better and I
would feel better about my math abilities.
As a
teacher with access to these sorts of websites (that are endorsed by the Queensland
Government mind you) offers our students different approaches to traditional
learning, as well as supporting learners who are struggling. This aids
the child's learning and chances at success in the topic they're
struggling with, but moreover, gives teachers much needed tools to address
different learners' challenges.
I have
also learned that in addition to learning websites to aid in teaching, there exist
tools and websites that make the execution of this learning much more engaging
for the student. I was very excited about Glogster for example and what it
offered the user as a presentation tool. Even creating a PowerPoint
presentation with the new PowerPoint is exciting and engaging. There is perhaps
double learning that happens, learning the topic (i.e. Poetry E.E.
Cummings ) but also the execution of the tool to present a report on the
Poet. Old meeting new and both relevant...very exciting!!
I am
feeling this is an exciting vibrant time to be a Pre-service Teacher, with
scores of tools and technologies at my fingertips waiting for me to un-wrap
them and make them my own. I want my students to love the classics (being an
English and Drama Teacher) but I want them to love it in a way that is relevant
to their world, their learning style and their future.
References
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